Lesson from a Queer Community

Hiding behind a wall of shame
You try to confide in your friend
I'm different you whisper
Don't worry your normal comes the reply
Everywhere you turn people shush you
One doesn't air their dirty laundry in public
Act like your normal is their advice
So I rented a vault
I threw the source of guilt and shame in
And the inadequacies for good measure
Locked it and threw away the key
Now I can pursue normalcy
The dirty secret shall bother me no more
Its done over with and now I'm no different than my peers
I ventured home joyous over my supposed triumph
Two hours later there was an urgent knock at my door
It was the samsara (soul scars)
It wore a rainbow colored shirt and was carrying excess baggage
I thought I sent you packing I said mystified
So beat it scram
Samsara just gave me a sorrowful look
Brushed past me and took up residence on my couch
I moved past my childhood into my adulthood
It was time to venture out in the world
I put my samsara on my shoulder and headed for Portland
Portland was a different world
It was there I met a wise man
He introduced me to the concepts of open-mindedness
One day I asked a question
He answered with a question of his own
Tell me why do you carry that samsara around?
I imagine it must cause emotional discomfort
You can see I said shocked
Of course for I used to have one myself
Then I realized my identity wasn't harming me
But denying and repressing it was scarring my soul
He took to SMYRC and introduced me to everyone
Some people here are still carrying their samsaras
They're not ready to put them down just yet
It was there I found the key I thought I'd thrown away
I had had it locked in my hearts vault the whole time
I used it to open my mind and banish the samsara
That was the first lesson I learned from the queer community
And SMYRC was were I met Rej
He taught me my second lesson by beginning Queer Zone
I speak for all of us when I say
By giving queer youth a place to chill
Where they're free of judgment
And surround by carrying supportive allies
And people who have been in their shoes
He has given us a sense not only of community but of self
It been a great first year
I hope there will be many more
And I'd like to conclude by thanking Rej for taking the time to ensure we have somewhere to go were we feel safe